Assembler-slide-controlling device for type-bar-casting machines.



E. T. WATERS. ASSEMBLER SLIDE CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR TYPE BAR CASTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5. I916.

Patented July 30, 1918.

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EDWARD T. WATERS, or'oivrAnA, NEBRASKA.

ASSEMBLER-SLIDE-CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR TYPE-BAR-CASTING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 30,: 1918.

Application tiled September 5,1916. Serial No. 118,581. i r

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD T. WATERS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Assembler- Slide-Controlling Devices for Type-Bar- Casting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to type-bar casting machines, and especially to the assemblymechanism of such machines It is the object of my invention to provide, for machines of this class, .means for causing a differential tension upon the assembler-slide, according to the direction of movement thereof, whereby the tension effective for returning the slide to normal position may be very slight, and the tension effective for resisting movement of the, slide away from normal position fnay beas great as desired. A further object of my invention isto provide means for adjusting, or varying as desired, the tension effective upon the "assem bler-slide during movement thereof in either direction. A further object of my invention is to provide a tension device for the assembler-slide, in which the pull upon the slide is exerted uniformly throughout the travel thereof, and inwhich the direction of the pull is always in alinement with the direction of movement. A further object of my invention is to provide a device having the foregoing characteristics, which can be readily applied to machines now in use, without change thereof other than the removal of the ordinary return-spring and the substitution of my mechanism therefor.

A structure embodying my'finvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front View of a portion of a type-bar casting machine, having my device applied thereto, Fig. 2 is a partial plan view and partial horizontal section of the tension device, Fig. 3 is a front view, broken away at one side to show the clutch device, Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of parts of the clutch device, and Fig. 5 is a rear view of the spring-drum, with a portion broken away to show the interior structure thereof. o

The illustrated embodiment of my invention is especially adapted for use with type bar casting machines having the structural characteristics of the. well-known Mergentha'ler linotype. In Fig. there is shown cured to the bracketrby a bolt 12.

I stud.

a portion 1 of, the faceplate of such a-ma-r chine, the assembler-slide 2, a part of the assemb-ling-elevator '3, rollers 41 which support the slide, and the' 'slide-brake 5, all of said parts being of the usual structure and ar rangement. The assembler-slide is shown in I its normal position, or the position assumed when there are no matrices in the assembling elevator and the machine is ready to begin the composition of a line. That portion of the face-plate 1 appearing in the drawing is located immediately above the key-board: of the machine, and near the right-hand end of said portion of the face-plate there is a large cap-screw 6 which is ordinarily em ployed to secure the face-plate to the main frame, and also to hold the pi-tray bracket 7, E 3

which extends out diagonally above and to the right of the keyboard. v

In applying my tension mechanism to the machine, the screw 6is'employed also to'sethe supplied mechanism. Said bracket'has a horizontal arm-portion, as shown, and in the end of said arm-portion there is an opening through which a stud Q'passesslidably cure to the frame a bracket 8 which carries and rotatably. At-the rearward eudof the i stud, shown in Fig. 2, there is a nut 10 beneath which extends the end of a'fiat spring 11, the other end of said spring beings, se-

aid spring ll'pushes the stud rearwardly, and normally hold a collar 13 thereon in engagement with the front side of thebracket arm.

.90 Apinlt on said collar is adapted to enter any one of several small holes in the face of the arm, and thus prevent rotation of the On'the studin front of the collar 13 there is revolubly mounted a spring-drum,

comprising aohollow cylindrical body 15 havingtwo peripheral flanges forming an annularchannel between them,and a plate 16 which closes the front side of the cylindrical space within thebody 15. In said cylindrical space there is disposed a spiral spring 17 of which the outer end is-con nected with a pin18 on the drum-body, and

and is connected with ablock 22 which'is se- V cured to the right-hand end or the assemblerslide 2, as shown in Fig. 1. The spring 17 is normally under a slight tension so as to tend to rotate the drum about the stud, thus exerting a. pull upon the tape 21. and causing the latter to pull the assembler-slide to the right or toward normal position. The length of the spiral spring 17 is such'that its tension is not materially varied by rotation. of the drum sufiicient to permit a full movement of the assembler-slide, and the pull exerted thereby upon the slide thus remains substantially uniform throughout the travel thereof. The direction of pull of the tape upon the slide is always in alinement with the direction of movement of the slide, so that there is no tendency to cause the slide to bind upon its bearings or supports. The tension of the return-spring may be varied by pulling the stud forwardly until the pin 1% is disengaged from the bracket-arm, as shown in Fig. 2, then rotating the stud until the spring is at the desired tension, and finally reengaging the pin 1% in one of the holes therefor in the bracket-arm, the stud being moved rearwardly by the spring 11 so that the parts are held in the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. In making adjustments of the i'eturirspring tension the stud is rotated anticlockwise to increase the tension, and is rotated clockwise to decrease the tension of the spring.

On the front-plate 16 of the spring-drum the annular clutch-plate 23 is secured concentrically with the stud 9. Adjoining the plate 2-3 is the clutch-disk which comprises a plate 2% having a flangeportion 25 which incloses the peripheral edges of the plate 23, and a hub-portion 2 f fitting revolubly on the stud and extending through the central aperture of the plate 23 so as to engage a shoulder on the stud. 1n the outer portion of the clutch-plate 23 are formed several wedge-shaped pocketsin which are disposed the clutch-rollers 26. Said rollers are engaged by small helical springs 27 and are thereby pushed toward the narrow ends of the pockets so as to engage lightly the inner surface of the clutch-disk-ilange 25. The pockets are so arranged that upon rotation of the plate to the right, or clockwise, the rollers tend to wedge into the narrow ends of the pockets and thus frictionally connect the plate and disk, so that the latter is moved with the plate; while rotation of the plate in the opposite direction tends to move the clutch-rollers into the deeper ends of the pockets, so that the disk may remain stationary while the plate is revolved. The clutch-plate 23, being secured to the spring-drum, is, of course, rotated thereby during the movements of the assemblerslide, and the clutch mechanism causes the clutch-disk to move with the spring-drum during the movement of the slide to the left,

or away from normal position, while during the movement of the slide to the right, or toward normal position, the clutch-disk is released and remains stationary. The movements of the spring-drum and the clutchparts in the first instance is indicated by the full arrows in F 4, and in the latter in stance by the dotted arrows in said figure.

A portion of the stud 9 in front of the clutch-disk is squared or angular in section, and. on said squared portion of the stud the drag-plate 28 is mounted so as to be movable longitudinally upon the stud, but not rotatable thereon. Between the adjacent sides of the drag-plate and the plate 24 of the clutch-disk is a. lining-plate 29, pref erably of non-metallic material, which is held in frictional contact with the clutch disk by means of a spring-washer; or drag spring 30 which engages the outer side of the drag-plate and presses the same rearwardly along the stud. The pressure of the dragspring upon the dragplate may be varied by means of a stem-nut 31 which is screwed upon the threaded end of the stud 9 and engages the central or outwardly bowed portion of the washer. At the front end of the stud a knurled nut 32 is screwed thereon, and is held in fixed position by means of a small set-screw 33 which extends through it radially to the stud. The said nut 32 may be conveniently grasped for pulling the stud forwardly and rotating the same, when adjusting: the tension of the re turn-spring 17.

From the foregoing it will be seen that during the operation of the machine, as matrices are dropped into the assembling-elevator and the assembler-slide is thereby moved to the leftor away fromnormal position, its movement is resisted by the spiral returnspring 17, and also by the friction between the clutch-disk and the dragplate, since the clutch mechanism causes the clutch-disk to rotate with the spring-drum during the movement of the latter in this direction. When the composition of the line is completed, the matrices elevated and the assem bler-slide released to be returned to normal position, its movement caused by the returnspring is unretarded, since the clutch-disk is then released and there is no movement of said disk relatively to the drag-plate. It will be apparent that the tension of the return-spring may be adjusted so that it is merely sufficient to cause movement of the assembler-slide to normal position, while the tension of the dragspring may be adjusted so as to offer any desired resistance to the movement of the assembler-slide away from normal position.

The described assembler-shde-controlling mechanism. is particularly useful in connection with tabulating devices, or means for indicating accurately the movements of the as sembler-slide, such as the mechanism shown in Letters Patent No. 770,341, issued to me Sept. 20, 1004, or as shown in Patent No. 1,200,058, issued to me October 3, 1916. The assembler-slide-controlling device is alsodesirable for use, however, independently of its association with tabulating mechanism. as will appear hereinafter.

In linotype machines, it is the function of the assembler-slide to hold the matrices together as they are dropped into the assembling-elevator, so that at any time the last matrix dropped will be held in vertical position adjoining the star-wheel which packs the matrices into the elevator. Ordinarily the movement of the assembler-slide away from normal position is resisted only by the return-spring, and afterany movement of the slide to the left, or away from normal position, it is retained in such position'by the brake 5, shown in Fig. 1, the brake being releasable manually at any time, and

being released automatically to permit the return of-tlie slide to normal position when the elevator is raised preparatory to transposing the assembled line of matrices to the casting apparatus. Considering further the operation of the ordinary assembler-slide mechanism, if the return-spring-tension is quite heavy it will usually cause the slide to slip relatively to the brake, resulting in the line of assembled matrices being held against the star-wheel so as to receive a constant vibratory movement therefrom, which is communicated to the slide, Such vibratory movement of the matrices and slide makes it diiiicult for the operator to verify the composition of the line by reading the same, and 1 results in unnecessary and undesirable wear of the matrices, star-wheel and brake. Also a heavy return-spring-tension causes the slide to be returned violently to normal position, causing undesirable noise and excessive stress and wear upon the slide. Furthermore, when tabulating devices are in use, the vibration of the slide, caused as described, makes it difiicult or even impossible to read accurately the position of the slide. The evil results of a heavy return-springteusion may, of course, be avoided by adjusting the tension of the return-spring so that it is merely sufiicient to cause the slide, when released by the brake, to return to normal position. When this is done, however, a further difficulty arises, as follows: During rapid composition, or when a thick matrix is dropped into the assembling-elevator, the sudden movement imparted to the assembier-slide causes it to be thrown over farther reading thereof, unless the brake is released to permit the slide to return toward normal ing or transpositions of the matrices, if one or more of the matrices adjoining the starwheel fall over into'an inclined position so that a subsequently-dropped matrix can fall into the space between them and the remainder of the assembled line. Also, the

operator may be deceived into thinking the line completed or properly filled, when in fact there is more unfilled space therein than can be compensatedby the usual number of space-bands; and, being so deceived, he may. send the loose line to the casting apparatus 7 where it will fail to cause the casting of a satisfactory slug or type-bar;

Having in mind the above described defects of the ordinary assembler-slide controlling mechanism, it will at once be apparent wherein my invention avoids the same, The tension effective for returning the assembler-slide to normal position being adjustable independently of the tension ef} fective for resisting movement of the slide away from normal position, it is possible to secure all of the advantages incident to both lightand heavy return-spring-tension without incurring any of the disadvantages of either adjustment. The actual tension of the return-spring employed by my invention may be so slightthat it will not cause the slide to slip through the brake, or return the slide to normal position with unnecessary speed or violence. At the sametime the drag device may be so adjusted that by its resistance to the movements of the slide away from normal position it willprevent excessive movements of the slide during 7 rapid composition or when thick matrices are dropped into the elevator. Actual tests of the device, in connection with slide-travelindicating or tabulating devices, have shown it to be unnecessary to release the brake in order to secure accurate-readings of the indicating mechanism. 1

Now, having described my invention, what .I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent'is: r I

1. In atype-bar casting machine, thecombination with an assembler-slide, of yielding means arranged to resist movement of the.

slide away from normal position and to actuate the slide toward normal position, and a drag-device arranged to resist movement of the slide away from normal position only. 7

2. In a type-bar casting machine having a longitudinally moving assembler-slide, frictional means connected with the slide and adapted to resist movement of the same only in a direction away from normal position.

3. Assembler-slide controlling means for type-bar casting machines, comprising a member connected withsthe assembler-slide, means for actuating said member to move the slide toward normal position, and means clutch-connected with said member for retarding movement of the slide away from normal position only.

4-. In a type-bar casting machine, the combination with an assembler-slide and means connected therewith constantly tending to move the same toward a normal position, of a drag for frictionally retarding movement of the slide in a direction away from normal position only, and adjusting means for varying the friction of the rag.

5. In a. type-bar casting machine, the combination with a longitudinally' movable assembler-slide, of a flexible element connected with the slide and extending longitudinally therefrom, means connected with the flexible element for holding the same under a constant tension, and means for increasing the tension of said element, said tension-increasing means being effective only during movement of the slide away from normal position.

6. In a type-bar casting machine, the combination with an assembler-slide, or" a rotary drum, means tending to revolve the same in one direct-ion, a drag-device clutch-connected with the drum for resisting movement thereof in one direction, and a flexible tensioned connecting element between the drum and slide.

7. Assembler-slide controlling means for type-bar casting machines, comprising a. spring-actuated rotary drum connected with the assembler-slide so as to constantly tend to move the same in one direction, and a drag connected with the drum so as to retard movement thereof only in the direction opposite to that in which it is moved by the spring.

8. Assembler-slide controlling means for type-bar casting machines, comprising means constantly tending to actuate the assemblerslide in one direction, means for trictionally retarding movement of the slide in the other direction only, and independent adjusting means for varying the actuating and retarding means.

9. Assembler-slide controlling means for typebar casting machines, comprising a rotary member connected with the assemblerslide so as to move synchronously therewith, a rotary part mounted coaXially with said member, a clutch for communicating to said part the movements of said member in one direction only, and a drag for retarding rotary movement of said part.

10. Assembler-slide controlling means for type-bar casting machines, comprising a rotary drum, a spring inclosed thereby and connected therewith so as to constantly tend to revolve the drum in one direction, a dragplate disposed adjacent to the drum, means trictionally connecting the drum and dragplate so that the latter will retard movement of the drum in the direction opposite to that in which it is movable by the spring, and flexible means connecting the drum and assembler-slide, whereby said parts may be actuated reciprocally by tension of said connecting means. 7 v

11. In a type-bar casting machine, a return-spring device for the assembler-slide, comprising a spiral spring, a drum inclosing he spring and connected to one end thereof a. )tll't on which the drum is revolubly mounted and to which the other end of the spring is conncctet means for retaining said part in varying relations to the machineframe to hold the spring at varying tensions, and a "flexible tape connected with the drum and assembler-slide, said tape extending tangentially of the drum. and parallel to the path of the slide, whereby the slide may be actuated by the spring and the pull thereof exerted constantly in alinement with the slide.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

E. T. lVATERS. Witnesses:

' D. O. BARNELL,

A. VJ. JAMIESON.

Genie: oi this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 0! latents,

Washington, I). G, 

